The BBC headline is misleading for two reasons. As the BBC article itself makes it clear, the diocese has not in fact "banned" the BNP. Rather the diocese has just issued 'guidance' to its churches. It is up to individual churches to decide whether to act on the guidance.

Secondly, the headline should really be 'Diocese follows Church of England guidance'. The C of E issued this guidance through the Archbishops’ Council Mission and Public Affairs Division on 1st February. This advised churches not to invite extremist candidates to their hustings.

Gavin Drake, the diocesan communications officer quoted in the article, doesn't seem to have realised this, or, if he has, told this to the BBC. That or the message just didn't get through to the Beeb.

More discussion this morning from commentators trying to make sense of the ongoing disparity of poll results in today’s Sunday Papers:

BPIX (Mail on Sunday) Con: 34, Lab 26, LD 30, Other 10

YouGov (Sunday Times) Con: 35, Lab 27, LD 28, Other 10

ICM (Sun Tel) Con: 35, Lab 26, LD 31, Other 8

OnePoll (People) Con: 32, Lab 23, LD 32, Other 13

IPSOS MORI (News of the World) Con 36, Lab 30, LD 23, Other 11

ComRes (Indy on Sunday and Mirror) Con: 34, Lab 28, LD 29, Other 9

To add to the complexity, YouGov polling in the Lab-Con marginals shows the Tories slipping to 34%. Labour is on 35% and the Lib Dems have jumped to 26%. This still represents a pro-Conservative swing, because of the drop in Labour support, but of only 4%, in line with the overall national swing. It would give the Tories 57 of these seats, not enough for a majority.

Gordon Brown expected to attend a public services rally in Northamptonshire.

David Cameron heading to Essex to talk about electoral reform.

Nick Clegg taking day off to spend some time with his three young sons who have been stuck with relatives in Spain because of the ash cloud.

Comment

David Cameron is today addressing issues of constitutional reform as more polls suggest that even though the Tories might get the biggest share of the vote, Labour might get the most seats under the First-Past-the-Post system. The Conservative Party have had a long-standing opposition to any form of proportional representation. In a hung parliament however, the Liberal Democrats may demand it as a condition of support for another party.

David Cameron claims that the apparently homophobic remarks of two of his front bench team do not represent the Conservative Party's real attitudes to same-sex relationships. But his comments about “families” in yesterday's Leaders' Debate illustrate an attitude to society that still upholds only one type of relationship as the ideal.